Ments



A. HERBERT.

GRAPHOPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-31. I918.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

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A. HERBERT.

GRAPHOPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.31 1,332,722.

5 INVENTOR. .ibedazao b ererzf A? ATTORNEYJ' A. HERBERT. GRAPHOPHONEI APPLICATION FlLED 050.31. 19l8.

Patented Mar. 2,1920.

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1,332,722. Patented Mar. 2,1920.

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A? ATTORNEY;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABELARDO HERBERT, OF LIMA, PERU, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OF TWENTY-FIVE ONE-HUNDREDTIIS TO TEODOMIRO DE LOS HEROS Y JACOME AND THIRTY-SEVEN AND ONE-HALF ONE-HUNDREDTHS '10 TERESA HANDLEY, BOTH 0F LIMA, PERU.

GRAPHOPHONE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 2, 192() Application filed December 31, 1918. Serial No. 269,072.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABELARDO HERBERT, of Lima, Peru, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Graphophones; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to graphophones and particularly to mechanism for starting the motor, insuring its continuance to repeat the record being played, and for stopping the motor if repetition is not desired.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of simple and efficient means for automatically raising the sound box needle from the record disk at the termination of the record groove and holding this needle raised While the tone arm is swung outwardly from the center of the disk, and a simple mechanism for automatically dropping the needle on the record when it is desired to repeat the record previously played, or any part thereof, without the necessity of having to manually, return the parts to a starting position, the sound box with its needle being capableof manual operation to place it in playing position upon a different record.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a very simple and efficient device for permitting the start of the motor by the act of moving the tone arm so as to bring its sound box in position over the outer portion of the record, this being accomplished by movement of a previously set brake from engagement with the plate which is rotated by the motor, and the arrangement of said braking mechanism so that it will automatically be brought into operative engagement with the rotating plate when the record disk has been played, the sound box raised from engagement with the disk, and the tone arm upon which it is mounted swung outwardly from its center.

\Vhile the drawings illustrating my improvements show the difierent parts as attachments for previously manufactured graphophones it is clearly manifest that the several parts forming such improvements may be fabricated with the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a graphophone showing-my improvements. Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of a portion of the tone arm, the sound box and its support showing my improved means for holding the support elevated. Fig; 3 is a similar view-showing the needle in engagement with the disk. Fig. iis a detailed perspective view of a portion of the brake mechanism. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the brake finger, on line 55, Fig. 4-. Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the locking bolt. Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing the means for effecting repetition of the record. Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the means shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a modification of the means for raising the sound box support from the disk. Figs. 10 and 11 show in side elevation the bar for moving the sound box support.

For the purposes of illustration my invention is shown applied to a graphophone of known form wherein is included a cabinet A, rotating plate B, swinging tone arm G, and sound box D supported by a curved neck E. In graphophoues of this type the neck is pivotally secured to the outer end of the tone arm, being adapted to be turned so as to remove the needle from disk engagement to permit the placing of a different record on the rotating plate. This has usually been done by a manual movement ofthe neck E. To overcome the necessity of manually raising the needle from engagement with the disk I provide a record disk with the inner end of the groove of pronounced eccentricity and terminating in a slightly inclined portion 2. It will be seen that as the needle of the sound box travels along this groove and up the inclined surface the neck E will be turned about its pivot. To maintain the neck, and consequently the sound box and its needle, in this raised position I provide it with an arm 3 which forms part of a latching device, the complementary part being in the form of a T-shaped lever 4. The shank of this lever is pivoted about midway its length, as at 5, to the tone arm and its branches form a bolt 6 which extends through apertures in keeper plates 8, 9, rigidly secured to the outer end of the tone arm. A coiled spring 10 surrounds a portion of the bolt 6 and is spaced between the shank of the lever and the plate 9 so as to constantly force the bolt 6 into the vertical plane of movement of the arm 3. WVhen the sound box is in working position on the disk the bolt will bear against the face of the arm 3 with the spring 10 under tension. As soon as the needle has reached the end of the record groove and has traveled up the inclined portion 2 the bolt 6 will through the action of the spring 10 be projected so as to lie in the path of the arm and the lat ter will be held down with the supporting neck E slightly raised and the needle out of engagement with the disk. In order that the sound box may be placed in playing position the lever 4 must be rocked on its pivot to disengage the latching members. This is readily accomplished by pressure on a thumb piece 12.

In the position of the parts as described, with the sound box raised and held so by the latching device, the brake mechanism is, free to come into action. The brake is of the friction type and preferably comprises a finger 20 having a wedge-like portion 21 of rubber or other material which is adapted to engage the en ge of the rotating plate. This finger is hinged for vertical movement as at to a. supporting bracket 23 firmly attached to the tone arm by a collar 2 a spring 25 being connected to the bracket and the finger to control the play or the finger as it engages the plate. The bracket, the brake finger and the tone arm are adapted to swing together. A spring tension device 26, one end of which is secured to the brake and the other connected with a regulating button 27, is efl ertive to turn the brake and tone arm, the brake into engagement with the rotating disk and the arm into initial position. The tension of this spring device is not sul'licient to hamper the inward movement of the needle over the record.

WVith a record in place on the plate B and the tone arm C resting against its bumper C, the arm is turned toward the disk so as to bring the sound box D with its needle into proper position over the record, the movement of the arm concurrently releasing the brake finger 20 from engagement with the plate and allowing the plate to rotate under the influence of its motor. Pressure on the thumb piece 12 will allow the sound box supporting neckE to turn and the needle to engage in the grooves of the record. The interval between the turning of the tone arm into appropriate position, with the consequent release of the brake, and the pressure against the thumb piece 12 to allow the sound box needle to engage the record, is sui'ficientto permit the plate B with the record thereon to gain sutiicient headway before the needle is in cooperative engagement with the disk. As soon as the needle has traversed the groove of the record and reaches the inclined portion 2 the sound box will be raised and the latching arm 3 moved downwardly, the bolt 6, under the tension of the spring 10, being thrown into the path of the arm to lock it against upward movement, and thus hold the sound box raised. Disengagement of the needle from the record groove now permits the spring tension device 26 to draw the brake into locking engagement with the rotating plate. By

reason of the tensioned hinged connection between the brake finger and its supporting bracket the wedging action of the finger against the rotating plate will be gradual and thus bring the plate to an easy stop. As the brake comes into position the tone arm moves to its initial position against the bumper.

From what has been said it will be seen that the movement of the tone arm into playing position automatically releases the brake and that the brake is automatically brought into braking position synchronously with the automatic disengagement of the needle from the record groove.

It is frequently desired, especially in the use of graphophones for playing dance music, to repeat a record or a portion thereof, and for this purpose I have provided a mechanism for automatically returning the tone arm to a playing position and setting the needle on the record. The lever 1, which controls a part of the latching mechanism for holding the needle out of contact with the disk during the return movement of the tone arm, has a rearward extension 30 which is adapted to contact with a trip 31 as the tone arm is being swung toward its initial position through the instrumentality of the spring tension device 26. This contact will effect the rock ing of the lever on its pivot 5 and consequently a release of the latching mechanism by movement of the bolt 6 from engagement with the latching arm 3. WVhen the lever is thus rocked the needle will be brought into position ready for contact with the record and to again traverse the grooves thereof. The point on the record at which this repetition will start is determinable by the position in which the trip 31 is placed. As shown, the trip is formed integrally with the collar 32 adjustably mounted on the fixed thimble F of the graphophone, the collar being held in adjusted position by a winged screw 33.

In order that the dropping of the needle on the record may be accomplished with maximum ease I provide the structure shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8. A tapered -l1old the extension retracted.

other to the telescoping extension tending to lVhen the needle engages the shoe 34 its weight will cause the shoe to bear against the rotating disk, with the result that the frictional con tact of the disk will pull the shoe from under the needle, allowing the needle to easily drop onto the record. The point at which the repetition of the record is to start is readily fixed by turning the collar 32 about the thimble F and for determining this point of beginning the shoe 34 will act as a tell-tale for the operator. f it is desired to repeat the whole record the shoe is placed at the outer edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 7. Movement of the arm carrying the shoe into this position will at the same time place the trip 31 at the appropriate pointfor engaging the end of the lever 4 so as to rock the lever as the tone arm swings back. After the collar has been made secure by turning the thumb screw the sound box may be dropped by pressure on a thumb piece 38 near the inner end of the lever 4. It will be seen that the brake member 21 is so spaced relatively to the tone arm that the movement of the latter to a point over the edge of the record will not effect contact between the brake and the plate B and that, therefore, the brake will not interfere with a repetition of the record if the trip has been placed for that purpose.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11, I have shown a modified form of mechanism for raising the supportin neck with the sound box. This is particularly for use where it is not feasible to alter the construction of the record so that the sound box is lifted through the instrumentality of the raised portion of the record. Encircling the support E, adjacent its connection with the tone arm, is a collar 40 to which a bar 42 is secured. This bar 42 extends in parallelism with the tone arm and its free end 42 is adapted to be brought into the path of a trip lever 43 secured to an upright 44 which is pivotally mounted on the cabinet so that it may be turned into appropriate position to permit its lever to engage the bar 42 when the end of the record groove is reached by the needle. The lever is under tension of a spring 43 which iseffective to first hold the lever in an elevated position and later to cause it to quickly engage the bar 42. The lever is moved from elevated position toward the bar 42 by a switch 45 which is actuated by an off-set portion 46 of the brake mechanism. The shape of this off-set portion is such that a part thereof will engage the switch 45 slightly in advance of the completion of the inward movement of the tone arm and, consequently, the brake mechanism, and at the time such Limit is reached the switch will have turned the lever 43 to the point where its spring 43 will be on the opposite side of thepivot of the lever 43 and thus cause the latter to be quickly brought into engagement with the bar 42. When the bar is so moved down its connection with the collar 40 will cause the latter to turn and raise the sound box support into position where it may be locked by the bolt 6. The action of the brake and the swing of the tone arm. under the tension of spring 26, as well as the repetition of the record, may then be performed as before described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a graphophone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, means fol-automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said sound box in an elevated position, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, and brake mechanism actuated by said tone arm as it is swung outwardly to govern the movement of said rotating plate. a

2. In combination with a graphophone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk when the former reaches the end of the record groove, mechanism carried by said tone arm for temporarily preventing lowering of said sound box into engagement with said disk, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, and brake mechanism actuated by said tone arm as it is swung outwardly to govern the movement of said rotating plate.

3. In combination with a graphophone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a. sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer. end of said arm, means for automatically raising said support to' disengage the needle from the disk, spring actuated means carried by said tone arm and adapted to engage a portion of said support to hold the latter in raised position, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, and brake mechanism actuated by said tone arm as it is swung outwardly to govern the movement of said rotating plate.

4. In combination with a graphophone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said support in an elevated position including an arm carried by said support, and a spring actuated bolt on said tone arm as it is swung outwardly adapted to be projected into the path of said arm, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly,and brake mechanism actuated by said tone arm to govern the movement of said rotating plate.

5. In combination with a graphophonc having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound boi; support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said support in an elevated position including an arm carried by said support, a lever pivoted on said tone arm and having at one end a bolt, and spring tension means acting on said lever for causing said bolt to be projected into the path of said arm, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, and brake mechanism actuated by said tone arm to govern the movement of said rotating plate.

6. In combination with agraphophone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer one of said arm, means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said sound box in an elevated position, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, a brake carried by said tone arm and adapted to be brought into engagement with and released from said rotating plate by the outward and inward movement of the tone arm.

7. In combination with a graphophone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said sound box in elevated position, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, brake mechanism for governing the movement of said rotating plate including a resilient finger, and a support for said finger movable with said tone arm.

8. In combination with a graphoghone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, mechanism for stopping said rotating plate in cluding means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said sound box in an elevated position, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, brake mechanism comprising a linger adapted to engage said plate, and a support to which said finger is hingedly connected, said support being movable with said tone arm.

9. In combination with a graphophone having a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, mechanism for stopping said rotating plate in cluding means for automatically raising mounted at the outer end of said arm,

means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said sound box in an elevated position, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, a brake actuated by said tone arm and adapted to contact nth said rotating plate, and adjustable means for rendering said brake ineffective and for automatically releasing said sound box support-when a record is to be repeated.

11. In combination with a graphophone having a rotating record plate, a swii'iging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end ofsaid arm, means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said sound box in an elevated position, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, a brake actuated by said ton arm and adapted to contact with said rotating plate, and adjustable means intercepting the swing of said tone arm for rendering said brake ineffective and for elfecting a release of said sound box support when a record is to be repeated.

12. In combination with a graphophone l'iaving a rotating record plate, a swinging tone arm, and a sound box support pivotally mounted at the outer end of said arm, means for automatically raising said support to disengage the needle from the disk, mechanism for holding said support in an elevated position including an arm carried by said support and. a lever pivoted on said tone arm and having at one end a bolt, a spring tension means acting on said lever for causing said bolt to be projected into the path of said arm, means for swinging said tone arm outwardly, a brake actuated by said tone arm and adapted to engage said rotating plate, and an adjustable trip adapted to be positioned in the path of said swinging tone arm to render said brake ineffective and to release the sound box sup port when the record is to be repeated.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

ABELARDO HERBERT. 

